migrant health research group

Our migrant health research programme aims to take an interdisciplinary approach to investigating understanding avoidable and systemic health inequalities. 

Our goal is to build a reputation for raising the profile of migrant and ethnic inequalities in health as a fundamental aspect of health inequality requiring specific, sustained attention. We apply that knowledge to the iterative development of interventions to improve health which prioritises the perspectives of underserved communities.

Our background

Our research approach encompasses a range of theoretical lenses, within an overarching inequalities framework, including community-based participatory research, behaviour change and socio-ecological theories. This approach also acknowledges the importance of class, gender and wider social, economic and environmental conditions which, taken together, shape differences in health status, health related behaviours and access to healthcare. Intersecting with this multiplicity of factors, the role of ethnic inequalities, as a key driver of health inequalities, is a central feature of our work. While our focus is on nutrition as a risk factor and outcome, we examine a broad range of health and wellbeing areas requiring interrogation by migrant status and/ or ethnic group identity. Our interests also extend to the health of indigenous/ aborigine populations who are racially minoritised in their home countries, and that of internal migrants.

The Migrant Health Research group staff and partners cross-link with the Tackling Inequalities research theme within the university’s Obesity Institute. Our staff have expertise in quantitative, qualitative and multimethod approaches, as well as a significant collective number of years’ experience in public health nutrition, dietetics, food science, social science and epidemiology.

Equally important to our empirical work are the engagement and understanding of the public, addressing the needs of long established and newly created minoritised communities, including those seeking sanctuary in the UK. Addressing systemic disadvantage in these groups is likely to also benefit the disadvantaged among the White British majority.

  • Dr Jinan Rabbee (PhD student 2018-2022)
  • Dr Oritseweyinmi Orighoye (PhD student 2018-2022; Research Assistant 2021)
  • Haddy Badjan Jallow (PhD student)
  • Laila Charlesworth (PhD student)
  • Solome Mealin(PhD student)
  • Lauren Senior (PhD student)

  • Oyetunji Akinola (Federal Polytechnic Ede, Nigeria)
  • Dr Mary Amoakoh-Coleman (University of Ghana)
  • Dr Emilia Asuquo Udofia (University of Ghana)
  • Dr Sufyan Dogra (University of Bradford)
  • Dr Setor Kunutsor (University of Warwick)
  • Prof Dorothy Monekosso (University of Durham)
  • Dr Sally Moore (University of Leeds)
  • Prof Bertha Ochieng (De Montford University)
  • Dr Yemi Oluboyede (University of Newcastle)
  • John Tetteh (University of Ghana)
  • Dr William Tigbe (University of Warwick)
  • Elom Yarney (University of Ghana)
  • Prof Alfred Yawson (University of Ghana)

Projects

Our projects constitute two broad strands: Global Health research conducted in low and middle income countries (LMICs), and our UK based research which focuses on the iterative development and evaluation of culturally acceptable prevention programmes, intervention content, dietary assessment tools and food composition data.

Examples of our current projects include:

  • Nutrition intervention in slum upgrading sites in Ghana and Nigeria: exploring solutions to female informal worker malnutrition
  • Improved nutrition and sustainable livelihoods for female informal workers in Ghana and Nigeria: Follow on study
  • Improved nutrition and sustainable livelihoods for female informal workers in Ghana and Nigeria: An interdisciplinary network
  • Family involvement in diet and exercise interventions among children in Nigeria
  • Social determinants of the nutritional status of female adolescents in The Gambia
  • Food ways in three Libyan communities: history, cultural identity and concepts of well-being

  • Co-produced culturally appropriate multi ethnic healthy eating resources
  • Health Connections: development and documentations of a new intervention to promote favourable diet and PA choices, and healthy weight tailored to the needs of Black Caribbean, Black African and South Asian men and women
  • Boyz2men: an exploratory cross-sectional study of minority men’s health
  • Exploring the feasibility of culturally tailored intervention components for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in UK Arabs
  • Food, Ethnicity and Diabetes (FOODEY) study: Interdisciplinary approaches to ethnic inequalities in type 2 diabetes
  • Nutrition and Health Survey of West African, North African and Caribbean adults
  • Urban spaces and sweetened beverage consumption in socio-economically disadvantaged settings
  • A qualitative exploration of migration and emotional wellbeing among African migrant women in the UK
  • Exploring potential interventions to support outcomes two years post-bariatric surgery
  • Diet and Active Living (DEAL) childhood obesity prevention study
  • Determinants of Adolescence (now young Adults) Social well-being and Health (MRC DASH) study

Research degrees

We welcome enquiries to undertake an internationally recognised research degree in our areas of interest. You will conduct your training under the guidance of at least two experienced supervisors. The PhD, awarded on the successful completion of a programme of supervised research, will contribute new knowledge to your field and you will disseminate your findings by means of your thesis and peer-reviewed publications. Throughout your PhD journey, you will be supported with a programme of research training to enable you to develop transferable skills for your future career path. If you are interested in undertaking a PhD in nutrition or other areas of migrant health, please visit our Research Degrees website. Applicants are also encouraged to make informal enquiries by email to Dr Maria Maynard at m.maynard@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or Dr Tanefa A. Apekey at t.a.apekey@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.